Musical Age

There’s something we should all do that can actually slow down the aging process...

If you’d like to slow down the aging process – strike up the band. Good news for musicians – musical activity keeps them mentally sharp for longer than non-musicians. University of Kansas researchers compared three groups of healthy adults ranging in age from 60 to 83 years old. Non-musicians, low-level and high-level musicians. The musical types scored higher in nonverbal memory, processing and cognitive flexibility. The more years of practice the individual had, the better their performace – on the test.

If you don’t play an instrument – don’t worry. It’s never too late to learn. And here’s some more good news – singing counts! Your singing might not put you in the high test performance arena with the musical pros – but it can help sharpen your auditory recall which is good for your brain too.